I would never consider new home construction a retirement hobby

Here is a general contractor, Brian, writing about John Bleasby’s “From Commercial Pilot to General Contractor: Mistakes Will Be Made“ blog, one of a series of blogs from John that we are running as John builds his family’s new home north of Toronto.

Thanks for your comment, Brian!  

“John, I’ve been reading your articles since you started – just to find out how your adventure proceeded.

You’ve done a lot of talking about principles you learned as a pilot and that these ideas should make you a successful project manager after completing one project. This being your own personal residence, nonetheless.

In this (latest) article you have begun sliding down the slope that every fireman and policeman does when they decide to do the very same thing you are doing. You are counting on others to build this project for you because you, simply, don’t have the knowledge. Did you have your floor system designed at L/360 or L/240? Do you even have an understanding of what these simple terms mean to the structure of your home or are you just another homeowner believing that you can save a lot of money doing it yourself because anyone can build a house and contractors charge way too much? You have now begun to blame others (floor system supplier) for your lack of knowledge.

I am a custom home General Contractor with a diploma in Architectural Engineering Technologies. I don’t rely on my trades and suppliers to build my homes for me. Building a house is so much more than choosing trades/suppliers, having drawings done and filing a flight plan. I’m 51 years old. I grew up in my dad’s construction firm. I went to school. I’ve operated my own residential construction firm for 28 years. I would never consider new home construction a retirement hobby.

The idea of building one house, for yourself, then ‘project managing’ for others, really, is a hillbilly fantasy.”

– Brian